The large, rolled-up blueprint in Gauri's hands was indeed a cumbersome thing, obscuring much of her view. "Watch your step, oh fearless leader," Isha teased, a playful lilt in her voice. "Wouldn't want the heiress of Rathore Tourism Industries to take a tumble in her own haunted castle." A giggle escaped her lips as she finished her sentence.
Karma, it seemed, had a swift and ironic sense of humor. Barely a moment after her jest, Isha's foot caught on something unseen. Her eyes widened in surprise as she lost her balance, arms flailing for a desperate second before she landed on the cold stone floor with a surprised "oof!"
Gauri froze, the blueprint momentarily forgotten, and turned back along with Arya and Veda. The boys struggled to contain their amusement at the immediate and comical retribution. Jai bit his lip, his shoulders shaking, while Arya let out a muffled chuckle.
Isha sat up, rubbing her backside, a bewildered expression on her face. She glanced around, trying to identify her unseen assailant. There was nothing there. Just the smooth, age-old stone of the hallway. She shrugged, a flicker of unease in her eyes despite her attempt at nonchalance. But Gauri and Veda exchanged a significant look, a silent acknowledgment of the strange occurrence.
Arya and Jai, however, couldn't resist the opportunity. They began to mimic Isha's dramatic fall, exaggerating her flailing limbs and surprised yelp. Isha, her initial embarrassment turning to annoyance, sulked and whined, sounding every bit like a disgruntled child. "Oh, very funny!" she grumbled, crossing her arms. "Laugh it up, you two. Just wait until a ghost tickles your feet!"
Finally, Gauri intervened, her voice firm. "Alright, that's enough. We need to stop messing around. Veda's right, this is a haunted place, and we need to be serious and look out for each other."
Jai, instantly contrite, offered Isha a hand. "Here, let me help you up."
Isha accepted his help, wincing as she put weight on her right ankle. Her face crumpled. "Ow! I don't think I can stand. My ankle… it feels all weird and blue. I think I might have sprained it."
Gauri sighed, a wave of regret washing over her. "Isha," she said, her voice laced with exasperation, "I told you to be careful." She pinched the bridge of her nose, the weight of responsibility suddenly feeling much heavier. Bringing Isha along was starting to feel like a significant mistake.
Without a word, Jai gently scooped Isha up into a bridal carry. It was a familiar gesture among their group, a testament to their close-knit friendship, and the others barely batted an eyelid, their focus already drifting back to the imposing surroundings. Isha, despite her discomfort, rested her head against Jai's chest, a small, almost smug smile playing on her lips.
Gauri, still clutching the unwieldy blueprint, continued to lead the way, her footsteps echoing softly on the stone stairs. "The layout upstairs is a series of long corridors," she explained, her voice carrying a note of caution. "Each room is numbered clearly. Pay attention to the numbers; it'll be the easiest way to find your way back to the main hall."
They navigated the winding corridors, the air growing cooler and heavier with each step. The silence was punctuated only by their footsteps and Gauri's instructions. "Room 1304," she said, her voice dropping slightly, "is at the very end of the longest corridor on this floor. And strangely, it seems like every other corridor eventually leads to that same dead end. That room… it has a particularly oppressive aura. I strongly advise you all to avoid that direction entirely."
Veda, who had been observing everything with a detached scientific curiosity, finally spoke. "Look, Gauri, I appreciate the warnings, but I still find the whole 'ghost' thing rather… improbable. The disappearances and deaths are certainly concerning, and there must be a logical explanation. But I'm not about to jump at shadows." He hefted his suitcase. "So, if you could just point me towards my room, I'd like to unpack and perhaps get some rest."
Gauri nodded, understanding his skepticism. "Of course." She led them further down the corridor, stopping before a series of adjacent doors. "Here are your rooms. You're all next to each other, so if anyone needs anything, or if… well, if anything happens, you can easily reach the others." She gestured to the numbered plaques on each door. "Jai, you're in 210. Isha, since Jai's carrying you, you'll be in 211. Arya, you're in 212. Veda, 213, and I'm in 214." A sense of practicality underpinned her concern. In this unsettling place, proximity offered a small measure of comfort and security.